Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Newcastle

[The Fun Factory]

Not the best of games for the first one back but its a win and a clean sheet which I will always be happy with. The midfield was better today but versus a better side may still get overrun.  Big call by Smith to play Ramsey and it largely worked. Hourihane and to a lesser extent Nakamba must be wondering about their Villa futures. McGinn and Luiz had decent games and Young brings a lot of experience to the team. Not sure what Martinez was thinking off for the pen and it was a tight call so got away with that.

Enjoyed all of the day apart from the horrendous wait at Aston station, and when finally got to the platform a half empty train went so I had to wait another half hour. 

[MarkLillis]

We won today and there were a lot of good performances from our players out there.

Newcastle we’re poor second half which was similar to their game against West Ham last week.

I like a lot of our players they clearly all have ability, though I think we are missing a midfielder who can get on the ball and “boss” the midfield.

A player like this would allow us to push into the top half for sure.

Easier said than done I know…but I can’t help feeling that we haven’t made our best signing yet.

Edited August 21, 2021 by MarkLillis

[stewiek2]

Thought they were the better team and bullied us first half hour. Wilson was a lucky boy not to get a red when taking out Ings off the ball. But then we stopped playing their game and hoofing it and started to actually play to feet and pass and move and then there was only one team ever going to win in. Martinez a lucky boy for that penalty shout. Young is 36!? Was superb. As was old bald eagle Cash, and Ramsey looks better every game. Special mention to Wesley, who I felt was superb when he came on.

[Don_Simon]

4 hours ago, Tommo_b said:

Who is she?! 

Too young for you.

[flashingqwerty]

4 hours ago, 1974Centenary said:

Very impressed with Ramsey,hell keep nakamba on the bench the rest of the season.

Sorry, I don't get this at all.

Ramsey is an attacking player, while Nakamba is defensive.  They are not competing for the same place in the starting 11.

[chappy]

1 hour ago, WHY said:

How did you make Luiz MOTM? 

Felt in a strong midfield performance that he edged it over the others. Low bar I guess but compared to last week it was great to see someone showing for the ball from the defenders.

[CosmicVillan]

Was great to be back at VP today.

Ramsey MOTM for me, only 20 and and seems to have filled out over the Summer - think he will only improve and they say his Brother Aaron is even better  ? Cant't wait to see them play together.

I thought we rode our luck today, no idea what Mings was doing when he let Callum Wilson through early on - Lucky for us he put it wide when it seemed easier to score

First half seemed pretty even but the Ref let it go every time a Villa player got fowled , but when it was the the other way round he constantly gave them the free kicks.....we were all starting to get a bit narked.. 

The goal was a bolt out the blue but a very welcome one - You lot who all leave your seats early for a pie...you missed a stunner ! 

We were sat in the Doug Ellis by the halfway line, nobody around us knew what either of the VAR decisions were for - Didn't spot the handball or the offside from where we sat so it was a complete mystery but nice for VAR to go our way for a change.

Was hoping Anwar would step up as he takes a great peno and he seems to get a confidence boost which he often takes into the next 2/3 games when he scores.

Buendia showed bits of what he can do, some nice passes and touches of class but I think there's a lot more to come once he's bedded in. 

Midfield looked a lot better and McGinn was my 2nd MOTM - he's seems to be thriving more with no Gresford to rely on so long may it continue.

Overall a great 3 points - Great to be back , we'll probably play better and lose at some point this season so take the points and move on.

[Keyblade]

5 hours ago, Tommo_b said:

Who is she?! 

Looks about 15 

[troon_villan]

6 hours ago, rjw63 said:

Oooh a win and a world class goal, and sobbing Jawdees.

Makes ya feel like dancin'

 

She looks a bit Ashley Young

[roonst83]

Result was all that mattered today. If we’d have lost today after the shocker last weekend then it’d start to get ugly very fast. We’re off the mark for the season which is great. Didn’t play great atall, as noted by Smith, but got the job done. 

Midfield had a much better balance to it. Ramsey stood out with a very mature performance given how little starting roles he’s had. McGinn got my nod for MOTM as I thought he bossed the midfield at times, got stuck in and kept the flow moving as best we could. 

Mings was up for the battle with Wilson and came out on top. However he was miles better in the air for us than on the ground. Lost his man and stopped playing to the whistle for Wilson’s one-on-one which if that would’ve gone in really could’ve been a spring board for another poor result. He recovered well and contributed to both goals. But he worries me with his lapses in concentration and focus. Contributed more in attacking areas than normal which I’m guessing is the work of the new set pieces coach. Hope so. Mings should be more of a threat than he usually is so hopefully we see more of this from our captain. 

We naturally lacked pace and intensity to our play as we were missing the likes of Watkins and Bailey who will help out counter attacks. It was a tad end-to-end in the first half when I’d’ve liked more control but we slowly started getting a grip on things and Ings’s goal was just sublime. A real finish that was. Pure instinct and a perfect execution. Credit to Mings for the set up. 

Sexond half I felt we were much more measured and only looked vulnerable after going two goals up. I’m always disappointed when I see El Ghazi starting but he can take a spot kick for sure. All credit for that and for staying so composed after a lengthy delay to the penalty. Bruce claiming “nobody in the stadium thought that was a penalty” wasn’t really true but either way it was a clear pen and it certainly wasn’t the “natural position” that Bruce claimed. Stone wall. I was grateful to Anwar for that. He does score important goals for us. 

Buendia was largely ineffective. Doesn’t have any pace of note and couldn’t quite get into the game enough for a £40m playmaker. I’m putting it down to him getting used to the new squad and system and hoping he comes good but I’ve not seen anything to get excited about yet. But I am impatient, like most. 

A few hairy moments after we scored our second goal and we got let off by VAR for the penalty. Crazy by Martinez really. Lucky to get away with that. 

Would’ve been nice to bag a third goal but we didn’t really look like doing so but saw the game out well enough bar the odd decent chance for Newcastle. A better team would’ve made today a lot harder for us. Was grateful for the win and hope we can get players back fit and push on from here. 

I worry about our lack of ability to carve open the opposition and create chances. We’ve barely tested the keepers in the last two games and it does feel our pace and intensity has dwindled since last season but I’m hoping that’ll change the more the team gels and when we get Watkins back and Bailey and Budenia up to speed. Traore will help with the craft too hopefully. 

As well as Ramsey played I’d still like to get a natural and experienced no.10 in and also a DCM which has clearly been a target for us. We need quicker links between defence and attack to keep up momentum for counter attacks and a no.10 would do that. Not sure who but we do need to replace Barkey’s position. 

Great to win today. As I stated at the start of my synopsis, the result was all that mattered after last weekend. And great to do so in front of a full house at VP. 

 

Edited August 21, 2021 by roonst83

[HKP90]

5 hours ago, El-Reacho said:

Seeing how bad Watford are against Brighton is probably the only negative today. Had it my head that they were going to be the surprise package of this season putting together an unlikely top 4 run, therefore last weeks result wasn’t all that bad.

But no.

Think it’s the other team you are underestimating. Brighton were a striker away from being a really good side last year. Their xG said they should have been way higher, but they couldn’t score. They’ve strengthened, too, and I think they will be the surprise package. They’ll batter a few teams this year.

[Made In Aston]

43 minutes ago, roonst83 said:

I worry about our lack of ability to carve open the opposition and create chances.

Bailey, Watkins and Traore were all missing (all 3 would have started today) and Buendia isn't up to speed yet. If you still think this when they all involved then fair enough, but I suspect you won't. 

[roonst83]

1 minute ago, Made In Aston said:

Bailey, Watkins and Traore were all missing (all 3 would have started today) and Buendia isn't up to speed yet. If you still think this when they all involved then fair enough, but I suspect you won't. 

I agree and also suspect (and hope) I won’t. My comment is based purely on what I’ve seen not what I am yet to. This (lack of creation of chances) was also a huge Achilles heel for us last year without Grealish so is something I’m hoping we get better at when we can eventually field our strongest starting XI of the new era. 

[Villatillidie95]

Fantastic atmosphere! was brilliant to be back amongst the villa fans at villa park, absolute scenes for the Ings Bicycle kick.....mental stuff and more like an away game celebration in my part of the ground, similar elsewhere i imagine!? Performance and controlling the ball could have been better, but we made use of it much better than last week. I thought ramsey had his best game yet for us, was nice and composed and played some great balls. When Buendia really gets going and we have Bailey in the team, it will be a sight to behold for sure!

[Peter Griffin]

1 minute ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

That actually gave me some insight into just how important, quality specialist coaches can be to be honest.

Ings goal was directly/indirectly? As a result of a set piece routine.

I remember when Klopp hired a throw in coach I thought that it was a clever idea and one I hadn't previously considered. Specialist coaches are a benefit to the team

[KentVillan]

6 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

That actually gave me some insight into just how important, quality specialist coaches can be to be honest.

Ings goal was directly/indirectly? As a result of a set piece routine.

Directly - we tried the same routine off Cash’s throw twice. Obviously the overhead kick was instinctive, but the flick on from Mings was pre planned, and Ings was in the same space each time. Smart routine, very hard to defend against given Mings’s height

[Jas10]

Good to see Dean being interviewed on MOTD, when asked about JG he said that the club were kind of prepared for it…

But…

Can anyone please explain to me why Danny f***ing Murphy is such a sad b*****d and hates us so much? Did he get prolonged abuse from our fans or something?

He’s always had a problem with us and made dumbass comments in the past.

The latest event:

He baulked at the discussion over our set piece coach and how it has benefitted us, claiming that should be a part of the manager’s (or head coach’s) job with that miserable git expression of his…

To be fair to Lineker and Jenas, they pointed out how it’s a positive thing and something to take advantage of…

[HKP90]

6 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

Good to see Dean being interviewed on MOTD, when asked about JG he said that the club were kind of prepared for it…

But…

Can anyone please explain to me why Danny f***ing Murphy is such a sad b*****d and hates us so much? Did he get prolonged abuse from our fans or something?

He’s always had a problem with us and made dumbass comments in the past.

The latest event:

He baulked at the discussion over our set piece coach and how it has benefitted us, claiming that should be a part of the manager’s (or head coach’s) job with that miserable git expression of his…

To be fair to Lineker and Jenas, they pointed out how it’s a positive thing and something to take advantage of…

Mental. We have/had a weakness in terms of coaching, and have seen an opportunity to improve output from set pieces. In a league of fine margins I don’t see how anyone (but Danny Murphy) could argue against bringing in a specialist.

[Okonokos]

8 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

Good to see Dean being interviewed on MOTD, when asked about JG he said that the club were kind of prepared for it…

But…

Can anyone please explain to me why Danny f***ing Murphy is such a sad b*****d and hates us so much? Did he get prolonged abuse from our fans or something?

He’s always had a problem with us and made dumbass comments in the past.

The latest event:

He baulked at the discussion over our set piece coach and how it has benefitted us, claiming that should be a part of the manager’s (or head coach’s) job with that miserable git expression of his…

To be fair to Lineker and Jenas, they pointed out how it’s a positive thing and something to take advantage of…

He's a complete dinosaur. Jenas totally made a fool out of him. Murphy didn't know what to say in response. He just repeated himself. I found it quite funny

[Jas10]

2 minutes ago, Okonokos said:

He's a complete dinosaur. Jenas totally made a fool out of him. Murphy didn't know what to say in response. He just repeated himself. I found it quite funny